Results 3,161-3,180 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Affecting the Quality of Water: Discussion (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: My next question is for Mr. O'Leary and Mr. Ó Coigligh. At Lough Talt in Sligo Irish Water was going through the imperative reasons of overriding public interest, IROPI, process. It is dragging on. Mr. Ó Coigligh should be very familiar with the national parks. Is the process nearly complete for the people surrounding Lough Talt who have experienced a problem with the water...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Affecting the Quality of Water: Discussion (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: They are being set up-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Affecting the Quality of Water: Discussion (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I wish to clarify what we are facing in villages that do not have Irish Water treatment plants. There is no funding available for the people affected and raw sewage can run into rivers. That is the reality.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Affecting the Quality of Water: Discussion (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am talking about small towns.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State for the meeting earlier. Some 48 jobs in a rural area are at stake, as well as the fine facilities at the Cuisle centre. There has been talk of the new hotel model. Nobody is opposed to the use of different models but when one listens to them they speak of a ten year projected model. Do they refer to a new HSE model? Works are required but, to be fair, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is no way that by next March the Irish Wheelchair Association will be able to accommodate over 20,000 bed nights throughout the country. The Irish Wheelchair Association has already outlined that the facilities required are not there in many counties. In general, one gives three or six months notice to staff when it is planned to close a premises. These staff were given 28 or 29...

Early Exit from Peat for Electricity Generation: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Deputy Sherlock for sharing time. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, will be well aware that some 12 to 18 months ago Bord na Móna invited all public representatives to meet it, especially those from the rural areas who are involved in the Bord na Móna areas, so that Bord na Móna could show the lovely, glossy booklet it had done out, probably at great expense, about the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 161. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the stage at which his attention was drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) was not under the remit of an organisation and would not be affected by agreements reached following negotiations; if his attention was drawn to the fact before or after the agreement was reached between stakeholders in the beef industry on 15...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention was drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) was not linked to an organisation prior to the agreement being reached on 15 September 2019; if so, the reason he did not notify farm organisation representatives at the talks that the injunctions held over farmers by the company would not be lifted as a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I support the amendment. Yesterday, the Minister discussed taxes, including carbon tax. Whether we like it or not, farmers have no choice. There are no affordable biodiesel or electric tractors. A person would need to sell the farm to buy such a tractor in America or another country. They cost approximately €250,000. We need to get real on this issue. Farmers do not have an...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: They do not.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I move amendment No. 79: In page 90, to delete line 28 and substitute the following: “with subsection (4). (3A) The purchase of marked gas oil by a haulier will be claimable against income tax payable.”.”. I withdraw my amendment with leave to reintroduce on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I move amendment No. 80: In page 90, to delete line 28 and substitute the following: “with subsection (4). (3A) The purchase of marked gas oil by a contractor for use in agricultural works carried on on behalf of farmers will be claimed against income tax payable.”.”. As we have outlined on the previous amendment, between 80% and 85% of all the work done on...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister. Let us be clear on the first thing we are doing before we bring in measures to help farmers. First, we are crucifying them with more costs. Second, the Minister referred to agricultural contractors and farmland. Where does an agricultural contractor do the work? One cuts silage in a field. That is farmland. One ploughs in a field. One sows tillage in a field....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am pressing it.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will speak to amendment No. 96.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Different scenarios have been highlighted for the Minister. As mentioned, the Department must give leeway to young farmers in paying stamp duty. There is one rule for a farmer who is 35 years old with the Revenue Commissioners, but if that farmer wants to receive the single farm payment through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the rule stipulates an age of 40 in the same...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine recognises a young trained farmer as someone up to 40 years of age who can get their single farm payment. Under the Department of Finance or Revenue, a young trained farmer is up to 35. Are they two different people or is it the one person who has the same piece of paper in their hand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Grant Aid to Rural Towns and Villages: Discussion (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Apologies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Grant Aid to Rural Towns and Villages: Discussion (6 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I apologise. I was discussing amendments at the finance committee meeting. I have looked at some of the paperwork already and it is interesting to see how some communities work. There are incentives there. Voluntary work is being done by amazing people around the country. Handing on the baton is another part of it. We need to get more young people involved, because no one lives forever....